I hate to be the bearer of horrific tidings, but David has Parkinson's and suffers from Tardive dyskinesia as a side efect from the meds. It's why he's given up performing, it is apparently as virulent with him if not more than it is with Linda Rondstadt, and decades old prior cocaine use is probably the same underlying cause. If you look at the Piers Morgan interview just a few years ago he was perfectly normal and sober after his then latest DUI.

Unfortunately, the latest interviews clearly show Parkinson's deterioration and TD. Please do not attribute his affect to drug or alcohol use, he is doing the best he can, is indeed sober, and needs your prayers and good wishes. I have no doubt he will come forward with this terrible news when he is ready. Unfortunately, while you can act and directors can shoot around you (Michael J. Fox), musicians and singers cannot fake singing and performing live. Cherish his Christmas CD which showed the effect it already has had on his voice as many have noticed; it might be his last.

They're running a story about him this morning on "Today". Teaser mentions dementia. Having had personal experience with a family member with dementia, it's too bad there are so many nasty rumors and assumptions about other possible reasons for his recent problems.

What is inappropriate is attributing his current health problems to drug and.or alcohol abuse. The man has been through enough and given enough. Disease, whether dementia or Parkinson's or cancer or anything else is nothing to stigmatize or blame the victim for and is nothing negative nor should be seen in any negative light whatsoever. As far as DC revealing in his own time, quite often the best doctors can take months to figure out diagnoses and prognosis.

Inappropriate? I am not sure I agree. Given his history, and what people saw, I think it was a natural assumption -- not a "nasty rumor." I seriously doubt there was any malice or glee coming from people. It was more of a "here we go again" feeling. Given what he's going through, I wish he WAS drinking. At least he could have stopped again. Now, his journey will be much more difficult and my heart goes out to him.

David has not announced anything regarding Parkinson's, and I still feel uncomfortable that it was shared here if indeed it is true. That's personal information that should have been kept quiet until which time David felt he wanted to announce it.

There were cameras from the Dr. Phil show at the concert so I'm guessing he'll be discussing it further at that time.

[quote="karmachameleon"]What is inappropriate is attributing his current health problems to drug and.or alcohol abuse. The man has been through enough and given enough. Disease, whether dementia or Parkinson's or cancer or anything else is nothing to stigmatize or blame the victim for and is nothing negative nor should be seen in any negative light whatsoever. As far as DC revealing in his own time, quite often the best doctors can take months to figure out diagnoses and prognosis.

As far as the "nasty" "rumors" snipe, no comment necessary.[/quote"

"Nasty rumor" was not meant as a snipe. Assumptions do no one any good. But, whatever.

Is there any way to change the title of this thread? I came here to see what others were sharing about DC's news, but it all seems to be housed in this red herring of a thread. (Poking fun at a celeb may or may not continue to suffer from alcohol issues just doesn't seem useful right now.)

I just looked at his official website. and there is a posting that says he has an interview with Dr. Phil airing on March 1st and that an article titled " my Battle with Dementia"will be in the March 6th edition of "people" magazine.

Sounds like the story is now public and official now.

I have an aunt who says she has the onset of this and she is just about David's age and she thinks my sister and I may inherit it too. I hope she's wrong, but like so many medical things the Doctors are still just "practicing"

we must hope for the best for David._________________Kathy in St. Louis

I know people who were at the show in LA last month and I saw video posted as well. My girlfriend was at his NY show last year. Dementia or not, he was drunk during both. My mom died from that disease and she lived with me while she had it for over 15 years so I know firsthand how someone acts with dementia as opposed to being plastered. And by the way, forgetting song lyrics is the last thing that happens. When my mom was in the very late stages, song lyrics were about the only thing left that she could remember. She couldn't hold the slightest conversation but if I started singing a song she knew, she would join me and know every line. So even though he may be at the onset of the disease, its not the cause of his recent debacles.

On Dr. Phil yesterday, David kept saying he hasn't drank in the last 2-2.5 years.... at first Dr. Phil didn't seem to believe him - showing the infamous latest concert footage - but then gave him the benefit of a doubt. Strange interview. Then David goes on to say that the Partridge years were great, the best, etc.... but back then he wanted out of the show and didn't always agree with the choice of music. He wasn't comfortable with the attention he got - as a teenybopper idol - because of the show. Oh, how time makes you alter your memories. If the Partridge years were so great why not release the unreleased songs once and for all ? The revenues of those CD sales could help with his bills, since he won't be performing soon... All in all it is still heartbreaking for us who loved him and represented the best times of all our lives, our childhood!